Investing in our community is a key part of fulfilling our mission to help people thrive daily where they live, learn, work and play. Our investments range from the time and talent of our employees worldwide to product donations and cash that support various community projects. Our volunteerism efforts stem from 40 sites across the U.S., Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Global Day of Service

A Global Day of Service and annual Global Week of Caring are our signature events. In 2013 the Global Day of Service marked a $1 million commitment to Habitat for Humanity. We supplied 1,200 employees to work in partnership with low-income families to build homes at 73 sites in 21 countries. Employees worked with the families painting, landscaping and weatherizing homes as part of Habitat’s “A Brush With Kindness” program. They also volunteered at Habitat ReStore resale outlets and worked on other local service projects.

Our ongoing support for Habitat includes cash and in-kind donations of brand products, including Irwin Tools, Rubbermaid and Rubbermaid Commercial Products. Our commitment also includes a cause marketing campaign to support Habitat’s work.

Newell Rubbermaid employees’ generosity in time and effort do not stop at company sponsored events. Because they are committed to helping the company be an exemplary corporate citizen, they can be found supporting other community initiatives such as tutoring children, teaching adults work-related skills and reaching out during times of disaster.

Week of Caring

As a part of Newell Rubbermaid’s Investing in Community corporate philanthropy initiative, the Annual Week of Caring brings together employees around the world to make a positive impact in communities where the company has operations. It’s a time when the company’s commitment to help people get the most out of life where they live, learn, work and play comes to life and Newell Rubbermaid employees give back to those most in need. The week typically takes place globally in early December.

A Focus On Education Globally

Supporting communities is an inherent part of fulfilling our commitment to help consumers get the most out of life every day where they live, learn, work and play. Newell Rubbermaid invests in initiatives that reflect what we value as a business — an entrepreneurial spirit, passion, interdependence, innovation and a sense of what truly matters in our work and in our communities.

Newell Rubbermaid believes education is critical to enhancing communities. When youth and young adults have access to the tools to succeed in school and in life, we believe it leads to individual and
community success.

Education is Key

Education reduces poverty and boosts jobs and growth, collectively improving individual and community success worldwide. If every student left school with basic reading skills, together we could cut poverty worldwide by 12 percent, helping more than 171 million people get more out of life.*

Education is one of the most powerful ways of improving people’s health. It saves millions of mothers and children’s lives, helps prevent and contain disease, and is an essential element of efforts to reduce malnutrition.*

And in the communities where we live and operate, education helps promote civic engagement to
build society. It is the key to empowerment, helping individuals and communities grow together.*

Local Highlight: Junior Achievement of Georgia

At our global headquarters in Atlanta, our employees regularly volunteer with Junior Achievement. Through BizTown, an immersive learning environment, Junior Achievement is committed to teaching youth financial literacy and illuminating career opportunities to give students access to quality education, regardless of their background.

During this day long experience, Newell Rubbermaid expects students to grasp the important role they play in the future of our community, nation and world, and how understanding finance and setting career goals now is vital to their success in adulthood. With the opportunity to activate lessons learned in classroom instruction, we hope students will better appreciate the importance of teamwork and disciplined decision-making. Students’ interaction with peers and Newell Rubbermaid volunteers stress accountability and highlight the importance of teamwork and building relationships in order to reach goals.